And the habit had outlived the marriage by months, so that even as he was defrauding her, some worn groove in her still reached automatically to cover for him.
That was the thing she had to break, and telling his parents the truth was where she finally broke it.
Not out of revenge.
Out of the overdue recognition that protecting Weston had never once been her job — that she had been doing his family’s grieving for them, in advance, so they wouldn’t have to — and that she was done.
Chapter 6 — The Binder
At eleven that night, a heavy knock landed against the thin front door.
Emmett came out of the bedroom, alert and wary.
Etta hid behind the hanging curtain.
But it was only Harlan, back from moving his car, with a thick leather binder tucked under his arm.
Blythe looked at her ex-husband in surprise.
“I didn’t just come to deliver birthday gifts,” Harlan said quietly.
“Something hasn’t added up for months.”
When Harriet finished walking him through the timeline, Harlan did not shout.
He did not slam his fist on the table.